Parenting

5 Books That Discuss Teen Metabolism and Health at Every Size (HAES)

5 Body Positive Nutrition Books for Kids

Here are 5 awesome book ideas that can serve as resources to aid in navigating teen’s nutrition and wellness through a health at every size lens.

1. No Weigh! A Teen’s Guide to Positive Body Image, Food, and Emotional Wisdom by Signe Darpinian, Wendy Sterling, & Shelley Aggarwal

An easy-to-read, fun, and informative guide and workbook, written by a therapist, registered dietitian, and adolescent medicine physician. This book details how bodies change during teen years, physically and emotionally, and the importance of nutrition for growth and development. This book debunks myths around “diets” and provides teens with tools and strategies to avoid potential triggers of disordered eating.

2. “Intuitive Eating for Teens: A Workbook to Help You Make Peace with Food, Mindfulness, and Your Body” by Elyse Resch, MS, RDN, CEDRD-S and Evelyn Tribole, MS, RDN, CEDRD

Drawing upon the evidenced based practices of the book Intuitive Eating, this workbook is designed to help teens address the ten principles of intuitive eating. The workbook focuses on respecting the body’s natural hunger and fullness signals, cultivating body positivity, and building a connection between mind and body. The workbook is broken up into short educational sections mixed with activities to put the practices into action.

3. Raising Body Positive Teens: A Parent’s Guide to Diet-Free Living, Exercise, and Body Image by Signe Darpinian, Wendy Sterling, & Shelley Aggarwal

The same authors who wrote No Weigh, have created this down-to-earth guide for parents, providing clear strategies and tools to encourage both parents and teens to have a healthy relationship with food and exercise by prioritizing joy and health.

4. Fat Talk: Parenting in the Age of Diet Culture By Virginia Sole-Smith.

This book aims to change the conversation around weight, health, and self-worth. It is geared towards parents, offering strategies to families to learn about their own body biases, identify diet culture, and empower their children to navigate the challenging food landscape.

5. Health at Every Size: The Surprising Truth About Your Weight by Linda Bacon

This foundational book outlines the research behind the Healthy At Every Size approach, which promotes self-acceptance, joyful movement, and intuitive eating. The book details the evidence supporting Health at Every Size and offers a starting point for tuning into the body’s expert guidance.